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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #307310
Title: Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure for the native tree Viburnum rufidulum occurring in Kentucky and Tennessee

Author
item DEAN, DEBORAH - University Of Tennessee
item WADL, PHILIP - University Of Tennessee
item HADZIABDIC, DENITA - University Of Tennessee
item KLINGEMAN, WILLIAM - University Of Tennessee
item OWNLY, BONNIE - University Of Tennessee
item Rinehart, Timothy - Tim
item DATTILO, ADAM - Tennessee Valley Authority
item Scheffler, Brian
item TRIGIANO, ROBERT - University Of Tennessee

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Viburnum rufidulum is a deciduous shrub that is native to North America and has not been genetically characterized. The plant has a unique and attractive red pubescence on leaf buds and petioles, but is also morphologically similar to the non-native and popular ornamental shrub species V. dilatatum. These traits make V. rufidulum a good candidate for breeding programs and as an alternative plant to the potentially invasive, non-native species of Viburnum. In this study, 7 microsatellite loci were used to elucidate genetic diversity and population structure of 235 V. rufidulum individuals in 17 populations from three counties in Tennessee and one in Kentucky. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity means were 0.49 and 0.80 respectively and significant deviation between these values suggested population structure. Population genetic structure and phylogenetic analyses revealed two separate genetic clusters. The Fst was 0.087 and indicated a moderate, but significant level of genetic differentiation. Furthermore, most of the genetic variation was found among individuals rather than among populations, which was also reflected in the low level of gene flow Nm detected. A Mantel test revealed a positive correlation between genetic and geographical distance (R2 = 0.042, P = 0.010), which suggests that the low level of gene flow and differentiation is a result of habitat fragmentation. The microsatellites developed herein will be useful in breeding programs, valuable in assessments of germplasm, and be of assistance in additional studies of V. rufidulum populations.